When it comes to Colorado MMA, you can’t leave out the fight promotions and their respective promoters who provide mixed martial arts fans with several great “fight moments” every year throughout the region. Some of these organizations have been around for years, while others are looking to solidify their foothold in growing market share.
As we look at the top 5, you have to keep in mind the time set, the impact on Colorado MMA, the number of fights per year, etc. With that said, each promotion listed showcases a quality product for fans, with no one leaving disappointed. We are fortunate to live in a state where so many thriving promotions are featured in exciting cards almost every month.
Let’s get right to it. Here are the top 5 current MMA promotions in Colorado and a brief summary of what each one brings to the table:
1.) ring of Fire Promoter: Sven Bean – The grandfather of all. The Colorado fight promotion that most fans in the state think of first in terms of Colorado MMA. I went to my first Ring of Fire show when the fights were held in Castle Rock, and it has never let me down. The first promotions card was held on March 18, 2000 and featured notable wrestlers Nathan Marquardt and Leonard Garcia. Ring Of Fire has seen many other high-profile wrestlers appear, including Eliot Marshall, Mike Nickels, Donald Cerrone, Shane Carwin, Carlos Condit and Duane Ludwig to name just a few.
two.) Kickdown MMA Promoter: Steve Alley – Second, the Kickdown MMA promotion has been putting on fights in both Colorado and Wyoming for years, becoming a staple of the Colorado MMA scene. The promotions first fight took place in Golden on February 23, 2002. The Red Lion hotel ballroom in Denver is where most of the Kickdown MMA events take place, making for a great atmosphere for a night out. Of fights.
3.) fight to win Promoter: Seth Daniels: Fight To Win, one of the newer promotions, has been hosting events since early 2008 and is quickly becoming one of the top promotions in Colorado. At the time of this writing, Seth Daniels had just made Colorado history with “The Professionals,” billed as the state’s first professional card. Fight To Win also hosts the occasional Tournament of Champions fighting competitions, which are welcomed in the region as much as they are needed.
4.) bad boys of the rocky mountains Promoter: Keith Schmeltzer – Promoting MMA cards in both Denver and Greeley, RMBB has been putting on shows since 2005. The crowds at RMBB are some of the best, as there’s just something about packing out fans at Red and Jerry’s in Denver and Island Grove events. Center in Greeley which adds to the buzz in the air on fight night. Also, there was a need for MMA fights in Northern Colorado which RMBB has filled very well.
5.) Extreme fight without mercy Promoter: Natalie Mort – NME Fighting usually holds their events at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium and has been doing so since 2007. RMBB slightly outperformed No Mercy Extreme Fighting due to the number of years in operation, but it is definitely one of the top 5. promotion in the state, holding several events a year. Look at them!
**Honorific mention** Bring the thunder MMA Promoter: Leister Bowling – Colorado’s newest class (at the time of this writing) got off to a strong start on September 11, 2010 on the CSU-Pueblo campus. The event featured a stacked card with Colorado’s Eliot Marshall in the main event and a special appearance by Shane Carwin. With Bowling’s strong ties to the fighting game, keep an eye out for Bring The Thunder MMA to knock someone off this list in 2011.
Obviously, we are lucky to be MMA fans and reside in Colorado, as all the promotions here have something to offer. It really comes down to taking time to enjoy Colorado MMA.
See you at the fights!